Member Article

Employers unaware of £126m government Youth Contract

78% of bosses say they are either unaware or will not be making use of the Government’s £126m Youth Contract scheme.

Despite the funds ploughed into the scheme, a survey from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) found it was unknown to 31% of employers.

A further 36% of respondents were aware of the scheme, but did not intent to act on it; while 22% intend to take on a younger worker through the funding offer.

REC’s chief executive Kevin Green said: “It’s clear that the government’s good intentions on youth employment are not hitting the mark if four out of five employers are not taking up the opportunity of a financial incentive to take on a young worker.

“It’s especially hard for young people because in a challenging economic climate employers tend to hire on the basis of experience rather than potential. So as more young people leave school and college to enter the already competitive labour market, it’s vital that any government interventions are successful in supporting them into work.

“It seems from this survey that the government isn’t getting the message across to employers about why and how they should take part in initiatives such as the Youth Contract.”

The Youth Contract includes wage incentives for employers; apprenticeship wage incentives; and the provision of voluntary work experience placements.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .